Kuala Lumpur Travel Information

The Basics

Time

Electricity

Language

Bahasa Melayu is the national language, but English is widely spoken and is the language of business. Cantonese, Hokkien and Hakka are spoken by the Malaysian Chinese population and Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi among the Indian population.

Travel Health

Some tropical illnesses are prevalent in Malaysia and travellers
should seek medical advice regarding any recommended vaccinations
before travelling. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are common, as is
dengue fever, which has no vaccination or immunisation. There has
been an increase in cases of dengue fever in recent years. Malaria
risks are isolated to the inland regions; the exception is Sabah,
where there is an all-year risk. Travellers older than one year
coming from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination
certificate. Visitors may also be advised to get vaccinations for
rabies, typhoid and Japanese encephalitis, depending on their
travel itineraries in Malaysia. Visitors should stick to bottled
water and avoid uncooked meat, fish and vegetables, unpeeled fruit,
ice and salads. A further health hazard in Malaysia is smoke haze
and air pollution, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, which has some of
the poorest air quality in Asia with very high Benzene pollution
levels. This could aggravate cardiac or respiratory problems.

The hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and other major Malaysian cities
are of a high standard but medical facilities may be lacking in
rural areas. Comprehensive medical insurance is recommended.

Tipping

Although tipping is not customary in Malaysia, the more
expensive hotels and restaurants add a 10 percent service charge to
their bills and further gratuity is unnecessary. All hotel rooms
are subject to a five percent government tax, though many cheaper
hotels quote a price inclusive of this tax.

Safety Information

Malaysia shares with the rest of Southeast Asia a threat from
terrorism, and this threat extends to places frequented by tourists
and expats. The US State Department stresses that extra caution
should be taken in the troubled eastern Malaysian state of Sabah
and the eastern islands, where the risk of kidnapping is high.
Terrorists are believed to be planning to kidnap foreign tourists
from the islands and coastal areas of eastern Sabah and boats
travelling to dive sites and between the islands are possible
targets. Tourists wishing to visit the resorts and islands in the
state should stick to larger resorts and exercise extreme caution.
Visitors should be aware that street crime such as bag snatching,
pick-pocketing and scams are a problem in Malaysia; most crimes
against foreigners are petty and the normal precautions against
crime should be taken. Stay alert, don't display conspicuous
wealth, make use of hotel safes for valuables, duplicate travel
documents, don't walk alone at night or in dangerous
neighbourhoods, and be extra cautious when using public
transport.

Local Customs

Malaysia is largely Muslim and therefore Islamic customs should
be respected, especially during the month of Ramadan when eating,
drinking and smoking in public should be avoided, as it is
forbidden by Islamic law. Dress, particularly for women, should be
conservative, and arms and legs should be covered when visiting
places of worship. It is customary to remove shoes before entering
homes and places of worship. When eating or exchanging money, the
right hand is used. Homosexuality is illegal.

Business

Those looking to do business in Malaysia are strongly urged to
research some of the cultural complexities of the country, which is
home to 19 million people, of divergent ethnic groups. Although the
Malaysian business world has largely succeeded in establishing a
unified ethos for itself, it is important to understand that you
might deal with people from different ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese
and Indian being the most common), and that your expectations and
conduct might need to adjust accordingly. The defining
characteristic of business culture in Malaysia is respect for, and
deference to authority. Authority figures are identified more by
skills, wisdom and temperament, than by powerful positions and
strict hierarchy.

The Malaysian style of management, it follows, is less
goal-driven, and more holistic, than in some Western cultures, with
managers taking a personal interest in the well-being of their
employees. Business etiquette in Malaysia is marked by sensitivity
and diplomacy. The golden rule is never to cause another
to 'lose face' in professional company; the wilful, or even
careless, humiliation of even a subordinate, is considered anathema
in the Malaysian business world. Business meetings in Malaysia
usually convene punctually, but can be subject to a lot of 'small
talk' and personal digressions. Don't get impatient as this is seen
as an important function of meetings in Malaysia, where the agenda
is not always as important as the relationships between people that
meetings serve to develop.

Business cards are usually exchanged upon meeting new
associates. Give and receive cards in your right hand, supported by
the left, and never fold or put away a card without looking at it
first. Be sure to have your details printed in Chinese on the
reverse side of your card while in Malaysia. The dress code for
business in Malaysia is typically Western, with smart, formal
clothes being worn. Men generally wear white shirts and ties
(jackets to be worn to meetings); while women - since Malaysia is
home to a large Muslim population - should dress more
conservatively than they might be used to doing at home. English is
widely spoken in Malaysia, and commonly used in most businesses.
Business hours are generally Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.

Communications

The international access code for Malaysia is +60. International
Direct Dial is available throughout the country, but the service
can be erratic. Hotels can add a hefty surcharge to their telephone
bills; it is best to check before making international calls. Coin
and card-operated public phones are widespread, and phone cards can
be purchased at the airport, petrol stations and newsagents. Mobile
networks are extensive, and local service providers use GSM
networks, which are compatible with most international phones.
Internet cafes are widely available in tourist areas.

Duty Free

Travellers to Malaysia do not have to pay customs duty on 200
cigarettes, 50 cigars or 225g tobacco; 1 litre wine, spirits or
malt liquor; cosmetic products to the value of RM 200; up to three
new items of clothing and one pair of footwear; one portable
electrical or battery-operated appliance for personal hygiene; food
preparations to the value of RM 75; souvenirs and gifts to the
value of RM 200 (with the exception of goods from Langkawi and
Labuan, to the value of RM 500). Prohibited items include goods
from Haiti, counterfeit money and illegal drugs.

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